Each and every hoarding situation is unique in that there are so many different elements involved in them.  Many times, what some people consider hoarding is clutter and disorganization.  Homes affected by hoarding are normally labeled as having lost some, most, or all use of functionality of its rooms.

Because of the factors involved, the costs of hoarding cleanup services vary greatly.  Some people choose to hire day laborers and pay them an hourly rate until the job is complete. However, the worker’s backgrounds are not checked, personal protective equipment (PPE) is not supplied (and many times not used), the workers have little to no training, the workers are not licensed, bonded, or insured, and the job could do additional damage to the person suffering from the hoarding disorder.  Additionally, if a hired hand is injured on the job, a lawsuit could be filed against the homeowner.

Some of the factors that are involved in the price of hoarding cleanup is the presence of biohazardous material.  Biohazardous material can be defined as infectious agents or hazardous biological materials that present a risk or potential risk to the health of humans, animals, or the environment.  Most biohazard cleaning companies offering hoarder cleaning, but not all hoarding environments containing biohazardous material.  Biohazard cleanup is extremely specialized and requires a high degree of training, specialized knowledge, and specialized equipment.

Another factor that can greatly increase the price of hoarding jobs is the presence of hazardous materials.  Similar to biohazardous material, hazardous materials pose a risk to individuals and the environment.  A company that specializes in dealing with hazardous materials must be hired to remove them and this type of service is extremely expensive. The simplest of hoarding jobs are limited to a trash out, or a removal of all items from a room or house.  Trash outs are generally faster and cheaper than an entire hoarding cleanout.  As long as PPE is worn and OSHA guidelines are followed, trash outs have a lower hourly cost per employee along with the cost associated with the job (PPE, trash containers, disposal fees, mileage, per-diems, etc).

Working with an individual that has a hoarding disorder can be challenging and time consuming, as making and sticking to decisions is tough for them.  If many of the items in the home need to be examined prior to throwing them out, the pace of the work slows down significantly and therefore the cost rises.  Also, as the person with the hoarding disorder makes more and more quick decisions, they tend to become overwhelmed, and sometimes cannot continue until the following day.  Out-of- town companies typically charge per-diems, as they are required to pay per-diems to their employees.  Per-diems are allowances for food and lodging for employees when working outside of a certain range from the company’s office.  So, out-of- town companies tend to cost more on jobs that take longer than local companies. Container costs must also be considered when cleaning a hoarder’s house.  There are many roll off container dumpster companies and each one has different pricing models.  Many companies have 10, 20, 30 and 40 cubic yard roll off containers, and each container has a weight limit.  If the weight limits are not observed, the price of the containers increases.  The prices of the containers can range from about $375 to $525, depending on the contents of the containers and the length of time they will be used.

Many people assume that the cost of actually cleaning the home is included in the price of the trash out.  Some companies will include the cleaning costs, while some will offer a line-itemed cost.  Once the debris has been removed and the biohazard threat has been eliminated, the cleaning process can begin.  Cleanings costs for hoarding environments can range from $.75 per square foot to $2 per square foot, depending on the amount and severity of cleaning involved. When getting a quote for cleaning a hoarder’s house, consider the above factors.  The lower the threat to an individual’s safety, the lower the cost of the job.  Also, local companies tend to cost less than out-of- town companies because their cost of doing business tends to be lower.  The presence of hazardous and biohazardous material will significantly increase the cost of the job, and factors such as the number of roll off containers used and the detailed interior cleaning will affect the cost of the job, which in turn will affect the price.  In short, hoarding cleanings can vary in cost.

Our goal is to help those afflicted with this disorder and to provide them with the tools and skills needed to live a clutter free life. We offer understanding, trust and hope in a caring, compassionate and discreet environment, while providing the quality of care our clients expect and deserve. Please contact us today for a free estimate.